MERCRUISER ALARMS AND FAULT CODES

Applies to Mercruiser engines with PCM 555, including 496 MAG and 8.1S. Similar to ECM 555 engines (4.3, 5.0, 350, 6.2).
“Pwr Limit” = percentage of power available (may be limited by Engine Guardian).
Engine Coolant Temp (ECT) sensor (near thermostat) measures temperature of closed-circuit coolant.
Exhaust Manifold Coolant Temp (EMCT) sensors (on port and stbd manifolds) measure temperature of raw water exiting manifolds.

Alarm # Fault Pwr Limit Description

Constant 4 ECT Coolant Overheat 6-100% Overheat condition detected by Engine Coolant Temp (ECT) circuit.
horn 13 Low Oil Pressure Strategy 0-100% Low oil pressure strategy. Stop immediately and check engine oil.
19 Overspeed RPM Limit Engine over RPM limit
Overheat in port Exhaust Manifold Coolant Temp (EMCT), 212°F (100°C)
22 Port EMCT CKT Overheat 6-100%
limit
23 Sea Pump PSI Lo 6-100% Low water pressure strategy, defaults to 43.4 psi.
Overheat in stbd Exhaust Manifold Coolant Temp (EMCT), 212°F (100°C)
28 STB EMCT CKT Overheat 6-100%
limit
Steady
12 Low Drive Lube Strategy 0-100% Low oil in sterndrive. Stop immediately and check drive lube bottle.
beeps
2 beeps 1 Cam Sensor 90% Open or short in cam sensor. Engine must be cranking to set this code.
once per 2 ECT CKT HI 90% Open in Engine Coolant Temp (ECT) circuit
minute 3 ECT CKT LO 90% Short in Engine Coolant Temp (ECT) circuit
5 EST 1-8 Open 100% Open in Electronic Spark Timing (EST) circuit. Check plug wires.
6 EST 1-8 Short 100% Short in Electronic Spark Timing (EST) circuit. Check plug wires.
7 Fuel Injector 1-8 Open 100% Open in fuel injector circuit.
8 Fuel Injector 1-8 Short 100% Short in fuel injector circuit.
9 IAC Output 90% Faulty Idle Air Control (IAC) valve. Only with RPM
10 Knock Sensor 1 90% Alarm sounds for 20 seconds in NEUTRAL, and indefinitely in gear.
11 Knock Sensor 2 90% Alarm sounds for 20 seconds in NEUTRAL, and indefinitely in gear.

14 MAP Sensor 1 Input High 90% Short in Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) circuit (No visual on SC1000)

15 MAP Sensor 1 Input Low 90% Open in Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) circuit (No visual on SC1000)

16 MAT Sensor 90% Open or short in Manifold Air Temperature (MAT) circuit.
17 Oil PSI CKT Hi 90% Short in oil pressure circuit, defaults to 51.7 psi.
18 Oil PSI CKT Lo 90% Open in oil pressure circuit, defaults to 0 psi.
20 Port EMCT CKT Hi 90% Open in port Exhaust Manifold Coolant Temp (EMCT), defaults to 32°F.
21 Port EMCT CKT Lo 90% Short in port Exhaust Manifold Coolant Temp (EMCT), defaults to 32°F.
24 Sea Pump CKT Hi 90% Open in raw water pressure circuit.
25 Sea Pump CKT Lo 90% Short in raw water pressure circuit.
26 STB EMCT CKT Hi 90% Open in stbd Exhaust Manifold Coolant Temp (EMCT), defaults to 32°F.
27 STB EMCT CKT Lo 90% Short in stbd Exhaust Manifold Coolant Temp (EMCT), defaults to 32°F.
Short in Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) circuit, signal to 5v+, engine will not
30 TPS1 CKT Hi 90%
start. Refer to data monitor screen.
31 TPS1 CKT Lo 90% Open in Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) circuit.
32 TPS1 Range Hi 90% Above 4.8v, 994 counts in Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) circuit.
33 TPS1 Range Lo 90% Below 0.5v, 35 counts in Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) circuit.
36 5 VDC PWR Low varies Short any 5v+ to ground.
No alarm 29 Steer CKT Hi 100% Open and short in steering angle sensor circuit.
34 Trim CKT Hi 100% Short in trim sensor, high range, visual warning on SC1000 only.
35 Trim CKT Lo 100% Open in trim sensor, low range, visual warning on SC1000 only.